UNDATED - Nearly a dozen northeast Georgia football teams will begin their quest for state titles Friday night in the first round of the playoffs in every classification.
Here is a capsule look at some of the biggest matchups in the area:
WASHINGTON-WILKES at CLASS AA No. 1 BUFORD WOLVES
Buford: 10-0, No. 1 seed from Region 6-AA; beat Lovett 21-0 last week in season finale
Wash-Wilkes: 5-5, No. 4 seed from Region 8-AA, beat Banks County 42-26 last week in play-in game to advance to playoffs
Last meeting: 1999, Washinton-Wilkes won 28-0 in second round of Class A playoffs (Wash-Wilkes leads series 1-0)
NOTES: The Tigers are one of the few programs to have a winning record against Buford. Washington-Wilkes is making its 10th straight playoff appearance and advanced to the second round last year before falling to GAC. They had to win three of four down the stretch just to get into the playoffs this year and have found ways at the end to win. They won three games by a touchdown or less and got two late scores last week to beat Banks after the game was tied at 26-26. Buford, on the other hand, has wasted little time in putting teams away this year. The Wolves are averaging 46.6 ppg and last week snapped a streak of eight straight games of 40 or more points. Defensively Buford has recorded three consecutive shut outs and has allowed just 46 total points all season. After scoring just 19 total points in a three-game losing streak to open the season Washington-Wilkes has averaged 20 ppg over its past eight games. The Tigersc are 3-1 in their last four road games but are 0-7 in their last seven road playoff games going back to the 1998 season. Buford is 19-3 in its last 22 home playoff games with all three losses coming to three-time defending state champion Charlton County.
WHITE COUNTY WARRIORS at CARVER, ATLANTA PANTHERS
White: 7-3, No. 4 seed from Region 7-AAA, beat Lumpkin County 32-7 last week in season finale
Carver: 9-0, No. 1 seed from Region 5-AAA, beat Therrell 36-6 last week in season finale
Last meeting: first-ever meeting between the two schools
NOTES: An interesting matchup between two schools with virtually no playoff history. Carver won its first region championship since 1986 and is making just its third playoff appearance ever. White County's only other playoff appearance came in 2001 while in Class AA. Neither team has ever won a state playoff game. Carver will pose a tough challenge for the Warriors. Carver has been dominating on both sides of the ball this season averaging 32.5 ppg on offense and allowing just 8.5 ppg, including holding seven of nine opponents to seven points or less. White County has won seven of its last eight with its only loss to No. 3 North Hall. Over their last four games the Warriors have averaged just under 30 ppg behind QB Tyler Norman, who accounted for four of five TDs last week. Defensively they have allowed just 13.5 ppg during that span.
GAINESVILLE RED ELEPHANTS at WESTMINSTER WILDCATS
Westminster: 8-2, No. 2 seed from Region 5-AAA; beat Riverwood 41-8 in season finale last week
Gainesville: 7-3, No. 3 seed from Region 7-AAA; off last week, beat West Hall 40-14 two weeks ago
Last meeting: 2003 playoffs second round, Westminster won 16-6 at Bobby Gruhn Field (Westminster leads series 7-5)
NOTES: The two schools met 11 times in a 13-year period from 1956 to 1969 but just once since then. The Wildcats have won the last six meetings in the series. These current Red Elephants would love to turn the tables to avenge the 2003 loss, which was a major upset handing the then-No. 1-ranked Elephants their only loss of the season at home. Gainesville has righted the ship since a three-game losing streak in the middle of the season. The Elephants offense has been nearly unstopable averaging 50 ppg during its three-game win streak to end the season. The Westminster defense will be a tough one to crack, however. The Wildcats have allowed just 9.2 ppg and allowing just 10 points or less in six straight games. Defensively Gainesville has improved over the past two games allowing just 16 ppg compared to allowing 160 points (40 ppg) during the previous four games. In Westminster's two losses it has scored just 12 points so holding down the Wildcats attack will be the key for Gainesville. Westminster has averaged 37 ppg in its eight wins.
MARIETTA BLUE DEVILS at NORTH GWINNETT BULLDOGS
Marietta: 7-3, No. 3 seed from Region 5-AAAAA; lost 49-0 to No. 1 North Cobb in season finale last week
N. Gwinnett: 9-1, No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAAAA; lost 24-14 to Norcross last week in season finale
Last meeting: 2001, Marietta won 24-17 (Marietta leads series 2-0)
NOTES: Marietta is limping badly heading into the playoffs with a two-game losing streak having been outscored 80-7 in losses to Woodstock and North Cobb. North Gwinnett lost the region title in last week's loss to rival Norcross. The 24 points was the most allowed by the Bulldogs all season and the 14 scored was their fewest all season. Until the current two-game skid, Marietta had averaged 24 points a game. The Blue Devils are just 2-5 in their last seven playoff games going back to the 1998 season.
REGION 8-A TEAMS
Bowden at Jefferson
Commerce at Gordon Lee
Trion at Athens Academy
MARIST WAR EAGLES at HABERSHAM CENTRAL RAIDERS
Marist: 8-2, third seed from Region 6-AAAA; beat St. Pius 21-7 in season finale last week
Habersham: 9-1, No. 2 seed from 8-AAAA; beat Heritage 28-0 last week in region play-in game
Last meeting: 1990 playoffs, Marist won 21-14 (Marist leads series 2-0, other meeting was in 1984)
NOTES: An interesting matchup for the Raiders. Marist is a perennial playoff power making its 25th straight appearance in the playoffs with two state titles, the most recent coming in 2003. Habersham meanwhile is making its third straight trip to the playoffs but just its seventh appearance ever. The War Eagles only losses were to top-five team Tucker and Mays in overtime. They are averaging 31 ppg and have won seven of their last eight games. The key will be the high-flying Habersham offense against a very improved Marist defense. After yielding 91 points in its first four games Marist has allowed just 7.5 ppg over its last six games. The Raiders are averaging 35 ppg and have scored at least 28 points in every game and more than 40 four times.
Other Region 8-AAAA playoff games Friday, 11-16
St. Pius (4) at Salem (1)
Clarke Central (4) at Tucker (1)
Cedar Shoals (3) at Mays (2)
CHAMBLEE BULLDOGS at FLOWERY BRANCH FALCONS
Chamblee: 9-1, No. 3 seed from Region 5-AAA; beat North Atlanta 42-0 in season finale last week
Flowery Branch: 9-1, No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAA; beat West Hall 41-7 last week in region play-in game
Last meeting: first-ever meeting
NOTES: Despite being just five years old the Falcons come into this game as the playoff experienced team. The Falcons are making their third straight appearance and are 3-2 all-time in the playoffs with a trip to the quarterfinals in 2005. Chamblee is making its first playoff appearance since 2005 and just its second appearance since the 1982 season. Flowery Branch has been dominating since its only loss to No. 3 North Hall. The Falcons offense has rediscovered itself averaging 46 ppg in a four-game winning streak while allowing just 20 total points the past three games. A cause for concern is that high-flying offenses North Hall and Gainesville racked up 79 points in two games against the Falcons and Chamblee is averaging 40 ppg scoring 46 points or more four times. The Bulldogs defense has allowed just 73 total points the entire season with five shutouts.
McNAIR MUSTANGS at CLASS AAA No. 3 NORTH HALL TROJANS
North Hall: 10-0, No. 1 seed from Region 7A-AAA, beat Chestatee 53-6 last week in season finale
McNair: 5-5, No. 4 seed from Region 5-AAA, beat Clarkston 24-0 last week in season finale
Last meeting: 2006, North Hall won 43-26 in the second round of the playoffs at The Brickyard (North Hall leads series 1-0)
NOTES: The two teams should know a little bit about each other after last year's playoff meeting. And fans should expect this one to be another track meet. But don't let the Mustangs' record fool you. Three of their losses were to Class AAAAA playoff teams M.L. King, Stephenson, and Redan. They are one point from being region champs falling to Carver, Atlanta 20-19 in overtime. They have averaged 37 ppg over their last six games and allowed just 45 total points in that span. North Hall's offense is as hot as the sun right now averaging 59.9 ppg over its past six games and has scored 40 or more nine times this season. The front line defense has given up just 6.4 ppg during the season. North Hall has won 12 of its last 13 games at The Brickyard and 26 of its last 31 since the 2002 season. McNair has won its last three road games but has lost its last three road playoff games.
Saturday
September 28th, 2024
7:09PM
